Finals berth a chance

OVENS Valley United kept its Wangaratta and District Cricket Association finals hopes alive this week, cruising to a seven wicket win.

OVENS Valley United kept its Wangaratta and District Cricket Association finals hopes alive this week, cruising to a seven wicket win over Wangaratta Magpies on the back of its most well rounded performance of the season.

The Tigers’ bowling attack laid the foundation for the victory on day one, when Nelum Kumara (5/16), Tim Ruaro (2/7) and James Neary (2/23) bundled the Magpies out for 122 on a McNamara Reserve wicket harbouring no real demons.

On Saturday it was the batsmen who starred for the home side.

Brad Piazza (28) and skipper Corey Southern (23) put on 47 for the opening stand after resuming with the score 38 overnight, before Scott McNamara (26) and Josh Newtown (51) shared a 63-run partnership for the third wicket.

The pair took the Tigers to within five runs of victory, with the target passed shortly after the loss of McNamara.

Kumara (33), Glenn White (19) and Neary (13) also chipped in as the Tigers went on to post a total of 218.